Pocketknife



M. P. HERMANN POCKETKNIFE Dist. 21 1924. 1,512,689

Filed Nov. 10, 1923 (1/11/1111! 5 VIII/4E INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED, STATES MAX P. HERMANN, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

POCKETKNIFE.

Application filed November 10, 1923. Serial No. 673,890.

2 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX P. HnRMAaIN, a. citizen of the United States, residmg 1n the city and county of Philadelphia, State of.

Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Pocketknife, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a pocket or foldin knife and consists of novel means for 10c ing the blade thereof in open and closed positions, said means involving a catch which may engagea recess in the blade, and

a device which may control and lock said catch in either. of the positions of the blade and automatically release said catch to permit the blade to be opened or closed as required.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown and described, as long as they are within the scope of the claim.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a knife in open condition embodying my in- .vention.

Figure 2 represents an elevation thereof at a right angle to Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section of a portion on line 3-3 Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 represents a similar section, the blade however being in closed condition.

Figure 5 represents an end View of Figure 1.

Figure 6 represents a similar end View showing the locking device of the catch employed ina different position than in Figao ure 5.

Figure 7 represents a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 represents an elevation at a right angle to Figure 7.

Figure 9 represents a longitudinal section of a portion on line 99 Figure 7 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 10 represents an end view of Figure 9. 50 Figure 11 represents a side elevation of the blade detached from the handle.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings,

1 designates the blade of a knife, and 2 designates the handle thereof, the former bemg mounted on the latter by the pivot or axial pin 3 as usual.

In the edge of the heel 4 of the blade is the recess or notch 5, and in the side of the body of the blade adjacent to said heel is the recess or opening 6.

On the side of the handle is a catch consisting of the inturned nose or head 7, and the resilient shank 8 which carries said nose, said shank being riveted or otherwise secured to the handle, said nose projecting over the end of the handle towards the adjacent portion of the blade, it being. noticed that when said blade is closed said nose is adapted to occupy and lock the recess in the heel end of the blade, and when the blade is opened said nose is adapted to occupy and lock the recess in the side of the blade. In order, however, to cause the nose to remain in the respective recess there is mounted on the handle adjacent to said nose the clevis 9 which consists of an open frame or plate, the walls of the opening therein being sulficiently large that its walls freely encircle the catch about the elbow 10 formed by the nose on the shank, said clevis being pro vided with gudgeons 11 which are seated in recesses 12 as the bearings of the clevis on the handle so that the clevis may be moved in and out turning on said gudgeons.

Now when the blade is to be opened, the clevis is thrown out by a nail of the thumb or finger whereby it turns downwardly allowing the resilient shank of the catch to spring out automatically to an extent limited by the clevis when the nose of the latter is removed from the recess in the heel of the blade. Then the blade is opened and the clevis is thrown inwardly when the catch is forced inwardly and its nose enters the recess in the side of the blade, thus looking the latter in its open position as shown in Figure 3, and the knife may be used as usual. When the blade is to be closed, the clevis is turned outwardly when the catch automatically flies out limited by the clevis and the nose is removed from the recess in the side of the blade thus unlocking the blade. The latter is then closed into the handle and the clevis again thrown inwardly when the nose of the catch is sprung into the recess in the heel of the blade thus locking the latter in its closed position, as shown in Figure 4.

In either position of the clevis it. has passed its centre and so is rendered immov: able while occupying the position in the closed or open condition ot the blade respectively until it is again properly operated for the purpose intended.

In Figures 1 to 6 inclusive the resilient shank 8 of the catch is on the exterior of the handle, while in Figures 7-10 inclusive, said shank is within the plates of the handle.

In Figures 1-6 inclusive the knife 'is shown ashaving a single blade, while in Figures 7-10 inclusive it is shown as having two blades,'but the invention is applicable to knives having numerous blades, the operation being the same in each.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a folding knife, a blade provided with a d'plurality of recesses respectively in the si e and heel of said blade, a spring catch fixed to the knife handle and having a nose adapted to enter either of said recesses relatively to-the closed or open osition of MAX P. HERMANN.

Witnesses:

J OHN A. Wmnnasnanr, N. Bossmena. 

